Mary, Queen of Scots, lived a rather tumultuous life. After the death of her father, King James V, which occurred less than a week after her birth, in December of 1542, the infant heir to Scotland’s throne was promptly sent to France.

By the time she was 25, Mary had married three times. England’s Queen Elizabeth, determined that her crown was threatened by her troublesome cousin, had Mary imprisoned for about 18 years before allowing her execution.

The last three days of Mary’s life are vividly dramatized in a play entitled “Mary Stuart,” written in 1800 by Friedrich Schiller. The play features a variety of royal subjects siding with one or the other queen. As Mary attempts to win her freedom, audiences witness political corruption, religious conflict, attempted assassinations, and an intense love triangle.

While the play is based in part on historical facts, a significant portion of the scripted events come from the imagination of the writer, including a fictionalized personal showdown between the two queens.

In 2005, English playwright Peter Oswald penned a new adaptation of Schiller’s original. The smartly-crafted revision enjoyed successful London and Broadway runs and continues to enlighten audiences.

As Shakespeare in the Vines gears up for its 8th summer season of plays, the company will perform the revised version of “Mary Stuart,” beginning Friday and continuing through Feb. 24, at Europa Village Winery in Temecula.

“The most intriguing aspect of this production is the work,” said veteran SITV director John Leon. “It is the process which gives me the most wonderment and curiosity.”

“The fascinating thing about this play is its powerful presentation of these historical figures,” Crissell said. “The writing is brilliant in the way it unveils how they schemed to try to achieve their goals.”

Then Crissell referred to an interesting choice regarding costuming, which also supports the characters’ common desire to control.

“In an effort to convey a timeless universality of the intrigue and manipulation by the men of Elizabeth and Mary,” he said, “the two queens are clothed in period attire while all the men are dressed in contemporary clothing.”

It is said that actors can be quite youthful, which was evident as the dramatists described their profound passion for the art.

“The fact that the story is about people who actually lived is exciting,” said Rosalyn Leon (as Mary). “Stories based on truth, regardless of how much fiction is added for dramatic effect, are compelling.”

The actress then spoke about the challenging aspect of portraying the title character.

“This show contains scenes of various intense emotional levels,” she said. “Mary is always fighting. This role requires a lot of energy and is both mentally and physically demanding.”

Arguably, the most exciting news about this production is the fact that “Mary Stuart” has become the play that finally brings SITV founder Sheila Ryle (Elizabeth) out of her lengthy acting hiatus.